October Term 2022 · Docket 21-869
Does a new artistic message justify copying a copyrighted photo?
The dispute centers on whether a new artistic message justifies copying a copyrighted photo.
Verified source milestones
- — An official oral-argument transcript was verified.
- — An official oral-argument transcript was verified.
- — An official Court opinion was verified.
The arguments, in order
This case may have been argued more than once. Each entry below uses that session's official transcript. Later arguments do not erase earlier ones.
Argument 1 ·
What happened at the argument
Ms. Blatt stated fair use is an affirmative defense.
She explained Factor 1 focuses on the purpose of the copy.
Mr. Martinez argued both lower courts agreed on the different message.
He stated the question is whether that message matters for fair use.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 33-1 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 33-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 31-33 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 31-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 51-53 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 51-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 118, lines 11-15 — Transcript, file page 118, lines 11-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 21-23 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 21-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 25-41 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 25-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 19-27 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 19-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 11-21 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 11-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-27 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 29-33 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 29-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 53-43 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 53-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 23-33 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 23-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 35-25 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 35-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 27-21 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 27-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 11-25 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 11-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 39-11 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 39-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 43-23 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 43-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 19-7 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 19-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 37-37 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 37-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 39-45 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 39-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 47-17 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 47-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 76, lines 13-13 — Transcript, file page 76, lines 13-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 76, lines 15-33 — Transcript, file page 76, lines 15-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 77, lines 33-13 — Transcript, file page 77, lines 33-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 79, lines 27-33 — Transcript, file page 79, lines 27-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 45-51 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 45-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 55-9 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 55-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 80, lines 41-19 — Transcript, file page 80, lines 41-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 88, lines 31-41 — Transcript, file page 88, lines 31-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 31-49 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 31-49
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
This case tests the fair use defense. It asks if a new message justifies copying a photo.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 118, lines 11-15 — Transcript, file page 118, lines 11-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-27 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 53-43 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 53-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 35-25 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 35-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 88, lines 31-41 — Transcript, file page 88, lines 31-41
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on October 12, 2022.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 11-21 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 11-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 23-33 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 23-33
What each side wants
The Foundation wants the Court to accept a new message as fair use.
Goldsmith wants the Court to reject the new message defense.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 118, lines 11-15 — Transcript, file page 118, lines 11-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-27 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 53-43 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 53-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 35-25 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 35-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 88, lines 31-41 — Transcript, file page 88, lines 31-41
What each side says
The Foundation argues a different meaning justifies the copy.
Goldsmith argues the copy serves no distinct purpose.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 118, lines 11-15 — Transcript, file page 118, lines 11-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-27 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 53-43 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 53-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 35-25 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 35-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 88, lines 31-41 — Transcript, file page 88, lines 31-41
What the justices asked
Chief Justice Roberts asked if adding a smile creates a new message.
Justice Sotomayor asked if context matters for the use.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 33-1 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 33-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 31-33 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 31-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 51-53 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 51-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 21-23 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 21-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 25-41 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 25-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 19-27 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 19-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 29-33 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 29-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 23-33 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 23-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 27-21 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 27-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 11-25 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 11-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 39-11 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 39-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 43-23 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 43-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 19-7 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 19-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 37-37 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 37-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 39-45 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 39-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 47-17 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 47-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 76, lines 13-13 — Transcript, file page 76, lines 13-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 76, lines 15-33 — Transcript, file page 76, lines 15-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 77, lines 33-13 — Transcript, file page 77, lines 33-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 79, lines 27-33 — Transcript, file page 79, lines 27-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 45-51 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 45-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 55-9 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 55-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 80, lines 41-19 — Transcript, file page 80, lines 41-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 31-49 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 31-49
Why it matters
This case defines the limits of artistic reuse. It determines how much original work remains protected.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 118, lines 11-15 — Transcript, file page 118, lines 11-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-27 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 53-43 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 53-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 35-25 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 35-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 88, lines 31-41 — Transcript, file page 88, lines 31-41
What happens next
This article currently covers the argument record. Use the official docket link for later case activity.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 33-1 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 33-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 31-33 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 31-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 51-53 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 51-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 21-23 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 21-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 25-41 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 25-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 19-27 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 19-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 11-21 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 11-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 29-33 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 29-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 23-33 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 23-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 27-21 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 27-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 11-25 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 11-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 39-11 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 39-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 43-23 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 43-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 19-7 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 19-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 37-37 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 37-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 39-45 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 39-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 47-17 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 47-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 76, lines 13-13 — Transcript, file page 76, lines 13-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 76, lines 15-33 — Transcript, file page 76, lines 15-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 77, lines 33-13 — Transcript, file page 77, lines 33-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 79, lines 27-33 — Transcript, file page 79, lines 27-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 45-51 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 45-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 55-9 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 55-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 80, lines 41-19 — Transcript, file page 80, lines 41-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 31-49 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 31-49
Official Court provenance
Official docket and case history · Official Supreme Court oral-argument detail page
Verified official opinions and orders
Title and summary sources
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 118, lines 11-15 — Transcript, file page 118, lines 11-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-27 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 53-43 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 53-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 35-25 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 35-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 88, lines 31-41 — Transcript, file page 88, lines 31-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 118, lines 11-15 — Transcript, file page 118, lines 11-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-27 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 53-43 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 53-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 35-25 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 35-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 88, lines 31-41 — Transcript, file page 88, lines 31-41
Revision history
- Revision 1 · Post Opinion ·
Correction: Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.
- Revision 2 · Post Opinion ·
Correction: Migrated to the dated official Court activity contract without model use.